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DYS Issue 57

November 30, 2017

Reduce Serious Musculoskeletal Injuries and Illness by 30%

SafeWork NSW intends to achieve a 30% decrease in the number of musculoskeletal injuries and illness in NSW workplaces by 2022. See page 3 of the SafeWork NSW publication, A New Roadmap for Work Health & Safety.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are the most common cause of workplace injury across Australia. For more information on what will help you to minimise the risks of MSD in your workplace see page 3 of the Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice.

Working at Heights On-the-Spot Fine Now in Place

Since the 1st of November 2017 a SafeWork NSW Inspector can issue an on-the-spot fine to an individual or employer if a worker is at imminent or serious risk of falling from a height. The fine is $720 for an individual or $3,600 for a corporation – see WHS Regulation Schedule 18A Penalty Notice Offences. Eight workers have been killed in NSW up to September this year in a total of 234 incidents involving falling from heights. See SafeWork’s newsletter, Safety Wrap # 22 for what PCBUs can do about the risk of falling from heights.

SafeWork NSW Commenced a 5 year Project on Hazardous Chemicals

SafeWork NSW aims to reduce the incidence rate of serious injuries and illness by 30% by 2022. One of their key target areas is “exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials”. (See page 12 of their Work Health & Safety Roadmap for NSW 2022.)

“Every worker across this state has the right to a safe and healthy workplace, especially those who work with hazardous chemicals on a daily basis,” “More than 10,000 businesses will be visited over the next five years in a concerted effort to eliminate injuries and disease associated with these substances.”

Changes to the Victorian OHS Act 2004 Now in Place

As from the 1st November 2017 recent changes to the Victorian OHS Act are now in place. The changes include a 400% increase in $ penalties for not notifying WorkSafe of a “notifiable incident” and a penalty of $396,425 for contravening an “enforceable undertaking”. The key changes in the Act can be easily read in an article by Sparke Helmore Lawyers. It’s called, Raft of Changes to the Occupational Health & Safety Act Commence in Victoria. Read More HERE